Social Entrepreneurship 101: Crafting Innovative, Sustainable Solutions to the World’s Most Pressing Problems

Monday, September 21, 2015

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Want to change the world? Interested in learning more about social entrepreneurship? Do you have an innovative solution that you wish to develop, or are you interested in working with others who do? Join us for an interactive workshop exploring the meaning of social entrepreneurship, drawing upon many examples of leading social entrepreneurs around the world. Learn the basics of designing your own social venture focused on social or environmental issues you care about, and discover programs and resources at Duke and that can help! Open to all Duke students.

Venture Capital Fundraising: Understanding Your Audience

Monday, September 28, 2015

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Fundraising from venture capital firms can be a long, hard journey. It starts with understanding the perspective of a venture capitalist. This session will describe how a venture capital fund is structured and what drives the venture investment decision-making process. Regardless of the stage of your venture, a better understanding of your investor audience will inform your fundraising strategy and your design of pitch materials.

The Startup Sales Playbook

Monday, October 5, 2015

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There are sales elements to every part of a startup business: from driving early customer acquisition to raising funds to recruiting a team. Within the growth objectives, there are a critical, consistent series of activities necessary to establish early wins, early fans, an early sales pipeline and measurable progress to your shareholders, your team and yourself. The Startup Sales Playbook highlights those activities. Based on numerous startup experiences, both good and bad, this session provides valuable content and context to jumpstart a sales and business development platform within your early stage venture.

Introduction to Human-Centered Design for Social Impact

Monday, October 19, 2015

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So you think you have a solution, but does it truly address the underlying problem? Will those affected actually value and support the solution? Across the country and in the developing world, communities are littered with the best intentions of well-meaning leaders, NGOs, philanthropists, and aspiring social entrepreneurs, whose attempts to solve critical social and environmental problems fall short of their mark, from broken water pumps to clinics filled with unusable medical equipment. How can we draw upon powerful principles of design thinking to come alongside key stakeholders to co-create desirable, feasible, and viable solutions to the world most pressing problems? Join us for an introduction to the principles and methods of “human-centered design” as we consider how to develop context-appropriate solutions informed by user needs and aligned to the circumstances of the broader ecosystems in which they will operate. You’ll leave with some tips and tools to ensure that your next “bright idea” is actually worth the energy!

Demystifying 3D Printing

Monday, November 2, 2015

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So you have an idea? How will you make it? The way in which we develop and manufacture physical products is changing at an exponential rate. Digital manufacturing and new technologies like 3D printing are no longer the tools of deep-pocketed industrialists. These methodologies are quickly replacing massive machines while at the same time enabling concepts like ultra-rapid prototyping, distributed manufacturing, slim production and personalized, custom products. The systems are at a point where they are economically available to nearly everyone. In this session we will discuss some of the possibilities, myths and facts behind the emerging technologies. We’ll explain how you can get started with digital modeling and fabrication as well as some excellent use cases that have come out of Duke’s Innovation Studio.

Experiencing User Experience (UX): An Overview

Monday, November 9, 2015

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This workshop will provide an overview of user experience design. Increasing your understanding of this ever-growing field is essential to working with any digital product, regardless of your role with the technology. Come to gain a broad understanding of the field and learn practical tips on how to create a successful user experience. Topics covered will include usability principles, UX research, information architecture, content strategy, and an introduction to different ways to get involved with the field. All who are interested in making the world a more user-friendly place are welcome to attend.

Iterative Prototyping: How to Fail Fast

Monday, November 16, 2015

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Got an idea but don’t know how to turn it into reality? Learn about different prototyping techniques to quickly and easily discover what works and what doesn’t. Listen to Duke entrepreneurs explain how iterative prototyping helps you make huge leaps in understanding what people need and want. If you’re looking for practical advice and instruction, don’t miss this I&E Academy session.